continuing on from the title... but I still find it difficult to tell others about the storyline of how Jesus died on the cross for our sins. I mean, it could be because I was born in a non-violent and protective country where most people are against violence but perhaps if I was in some other country where there is war and lots of violence and really evil I would be more comfortable and it would seem more realistic to believe this so I do believe but I'm afraid others don't believe this. Can you all help me with this by saying things on this topic? Thanks! I want to be able to share my faith effectively.
Yes, I went through this because though I was raised Christian in the US, my family was somewhat oriented towards liberalism. We believed most everybody was basically good on the inside, and were largely evil only out of disappointment with how others treated them. I believed my own country was basically good, and exemplified a "city set on a hill."
However, when I saw my own failures and shortcomings, I set my course more fully and consistently on Jesus. The result was people were turned off by my commitment and viewed me as "judgmental." Following the narrow path others were turned off by the spiritual essence in my orientation towards Christ and towards goodness.
So now, as I live a more godly life it becomes easier to detect who is open to Christ and who is not. I simply reject witnessing to those who are disinterested, who basically hate Christ. I'm not necessarily giving up on them, but I do shake the dust off my feet in a place where Christ is ridiculed and mocked.
So you don't have to have an ungodly, violent environment to explain to people why Jesus was crucified. They just hate him because they want to go their own way and don't wish to accept any need to submit to his leadership.
Go ahead and preach Christ as the one rejected of men, but accepted by those who need him and want him, who express an interest in finding in him righteousness and eternal life.
